BAHRAIN

Location: Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, East of Saudi Arabia Capital: Manama Population: 677,886 which includes 235,108 non- nationals (July 2004 est.) Ethnic Make-up: Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8% Religions: Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30% Government: Constitutional hereditary monarchy Facts and Statistics

LANGUAGE Arabic is an official language but English is widely spoken and it is compulsory in school English is the language used in business

∙ Pray five times a day – at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. ∙ The Holy Month of Ramadan - Fast from dawn to dusk - No eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, and gum chewing The Family/Tribe ∙ Family comes before other social relationships. ∙ The family is very private. ∙ Large extended families can live in the same house, compound, or village. Bahraini Culture and Society

Women in Bahrain ∙ More publicly active in Bahrain than in most Arab countries. ∙ About one-quarter of Bahraini women hold jobs outside the home. ∙ Women have the right to vote. ∙ Not completely veiled; some still wear a head-covering in public.

Etiquette and Customs in Bahrain Meeting Etiquette ∙ Smiling and direct eye contacts are crucial. ∙ Men shake hands and kiss each other on the cheek. ∙ Women generally hug and kiss close friends. ∙ When Bahrainis greet each other they take their time and converse about general things. Gift Giving Etiquette ∙ Bring a houseplant, box of imported chocolate, or a gift from your country. ∙ Flower do not make good gifts from a man, but a woman could give them to her hostess. ∙ Do not give alcohol. ∙ Gifts are given with two hands. ∙ Gifts are not opened when received.

Etiquette and Customs in Bahrain Dining Etiquette ∙ Do not discuss business at a social occasion. ∙ Punctuality is appreciated. ∙ Check to see if the host is wearing shoes. ∙ Accept any offer of coffee or tea. ∙ A great deal of socializing and small talk before the meal is served is to be expected. ∙ Show respect for the elders by greeting them first. Don’ts: ∙ Eat only with the right hand. ∙ Try a bit of everything. ∙ Honored guests are offered the most prized pieces such as a sheep’s head. ∙ It’s polite to leave some food on your plate. ∙ Sit cross-legged or kneel on one knee if the meal is on the floor.

Business Etiquette Dress Code  Western conservative clothing is perfectly acceptable in Bahrain  No resctrictions for dress code: you will see a wonderful variety  Dressing well gives a good impression  Avoid giving offense by wearing extremely conservative clothing: do not reveal too much of your body  Traditional Bahraini Abaya (black gown which women wear) because it is accepted everywhere in all occasions.

 Handshakes (with the right hand) are common and might take longer than you maybe used to.  Bahrainis are tremendously friendly  Greetings are given with a sense of enthusiasm and delight at meeting you or seeing you again.  Smiling and direct eye contacts are crucial.  Men shake hands and kiss each other on the cheek.  Women generally hug and kiss close friends.  When Bahrainis greet each other they take their time and converse about general things. When you meet someone first say Assa-Laamu-Alai-kum. This means peace be unto you. It is a common greeting in the arabic language. The person will respond- Wa-a-lai- kum-salaam. This means and peace be unto you! You can also use this response if someone says the first step to you. Business Etiquette Greeting

Business Etiquette Business Cards  Business Cards are given to everyone you meet  Have one side of your card translated into Arabic  Present your card so the Arabic side is readable to the recipient  Present and receive business cards with two hands  Make a point of studying any business card you receive before putting it into a business card holder.

Business Etiquette Hospitality Serving of coffee or tea as a ceremony Holding the hand throughout the entire duration of the greeting process

Business Etiquette Business meeting and negotiation Working week begins on Saturday and ends on Thursday Handshake as a general introduction Establish an atmosphere of friendliness before embarking on business matters. Decisions often take place by consensus